Technology & Innovation - Issue 12

Observations REIMAGINED Matt Newell considers the implications of combining AI with lesson observations, and whether that might spell the end of intrusive classroom visits... T he first time you stood in front of your class with a senior leader sat silently in the back row, pen in hand, youmay well have felt yourself shrink to half your normal size. Lesson observations have long been used as an accountability tool, but for many teachers, the experience has been intrusive, rather than developmental. Now, artificial intelligence is entering this space, promising to transform observation from a source of anxiety into a genuine driver of professional growth. But can AI really end the culture of tick-box visits and replace themwith something more meaningful? The problemwith traditional observations Observations are supposed to help. You care about your teaching, and about doing the best for your pupils – but how often has an observation actually left you with something useful? Too often, the focus will be on performance evaluation. A fleeting visit produces just a snapshot of your lesson and, if you’re lucky, a short note afterwards. Research carried out by the Education Development Trust in 2020 found that over 70% of teachers said feedback from observations didn’t support their professional development. More than 60% of leaders meanwhile admitted that their evaluation systems were ineffective. That disconnect is telling. Feedback is essential, but the way it’s been delivered has often felt more like surveillance than support. Fromaccountability to growth The most effective observations place emphasis on pedagogy, not performance. When the process highlights what’s happening in the classroom, rather than passing judgement on the teacher, it begins to feel more like an opportunity than an ordeal. Video has already opened this door. Instead of juggling timetables and cover for in-person drop-ins, you can record a lesson, reflect on it at your own pace and then choose what to share. This simple act of control changes the whole dynamic, with recordings allowing for deeper reflection and space for professional dialogue, rather than just leaving you with a fleeting impression from a hurried visit. And it’s here that AI can offer something new. Recordings can be analysed and used to provide insights inminutes, highlighting patterns that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. AI can track how you distribute questions, howmuch wait time you allow and the ways in which dialogue flows across the class. That kind of analysis can deliver clarity. Instead of vague notes about ‘ needing to work on questioning ,’ you can now see tangible evidence detailing who you called on 10 teachwire.net